As some of you will already be aware I have stepped down from Comrades in Arms in a game organising capacity.
There aren't any dramas really - I was doing too much and it couldn't go on forever. I loved what CiA had achieved and loved the games that we put on - my sort of games, not unnaturally. It was the complete antithesis of any airsoft game I had been to hitherto - no clique 'teams' with selfish objectives, no need whatsoever for marshals, no single minded 'win' objective. It was the journey that mattered, your personal effort, your personal contribution to the team. Brilliant.
I'll always be proud of what we built from nothing and remember well our first game that was a ridiculous gamble and being astonished at the booking numbers and the level of effort with kit. It could only get better! And it did. Sure we had some learning to do and made some mistakes on the way but it was all fab regardless.
Well, nearly. I always hated the time and effort setting up a site beforehand and the knockdown after. I could well do without that! And over time it all became more and more physically difficult, both in organising and playing. And so now I'm set free, free of travelling to all points of the compass searching out groovy sites for us to use, free of the hours of planning and prop making, free of dealing with post-battle disputes and complaints!
I'll still be around though, I may still be going to other organiser's games as I always have done, I'll have more time to put into 'behind the rope' reenacting, more time for historical research and more time to spend with the family who I have neglected more than I should have this past four or five years. What I don't intend doing is joining any other group or running a split-off team or organising rival games. Comrades in Arms was special to me - better to have loved and lost than never loved at all. (Sorry, that was a bit over the top - it's only a hobby!)
Anyway, no regrets, nothing is for ever. I never 'fall out' with people even if there have been disagreements, life is too short (trust me on this - once you are over 50 you realise you are looking at the end game!) and I'm always happy to have a chin wag at any occasion where I bump into people (I'm always astonished that people make 'enemies' in hobbies such as this).
So, I've always worked on the principle that if a job is worth doing it is worth doing well and I hope the legacy was that it was a job done well. Goodbye Comrades in Arms - great times, great laughs. I wish the remaining four members well and hope they go from strength to strength and they will get my full support as do all other WW2 game organisers.
What I won't be giving up is the forum and I intend to see it goes from strength to strength, pushing further into the 'community' aspect rather than the home of a single organiser. As has always been the case, this process will be incremental. Over time I have made many fundamental changes - with introducing a wide-based community moderating team and listing all events with equal emphasis among them. All this in recognition that it is the community that matters now, not just the small part within it.
So there you are. It's both a sad day and a joyous one. Just to repeat, there has been no acrimonious bust up, and there are no dramas. Sure, disagreements along the way but some things reach a natural conclusion. It is just a matter of when and that moment has now come, for me.
CW is Dead. Long Live CW 
I'm shocked. But yes, when something ceases to be enjoyable or satisfying, it is wise to move on, I guess.
I do hope to keep in touch with you, Dave - I always enjoy a good chat and a laugh when you're around. 
You've got nothing to ein, zwei, drei, vier
And so we say farewell to David and thanks for all the hard work . As the man says, it's strange thinking that nearly 5 years on from the planning of "A clash of Eagles" with 14 events under our belt , that we'd still be going. It was likely to be a one off, maybe another game once, none of us thought it would end up becoming a central point to our lives for so long. We've had ups and downs , the wash out at Churchills, the crapness that was Herbsnebel , a lot of times when we have all said sod that for a game of soldiers. The hours chasing sites, dragging props around , worrying about players , the weather and 101 other things. Watching this forum move from a simple game playing arrangement to the edifice it has become .
And in all those year no one has put more effort in than David , all the site visits, a lot of the event plans , endless storage of props , maps and all the other bits and pieces that go to make up 8-12 hours worth of event whilst keeping this place upgraded and moderated . It's enough to wear anyone out ! We are generally the first on site and the last to leave, and over the past few years all of our lives have changed a lot to put further demands on our time and cash . We kept telling him to take a back seat for a while , however it's in his nature to give 100% dedication and in the end I guess it takes your toll .
I can say that I've thoroughly enjoyed working alongside CW. Those few extra years have added a lot of wisdom to team in their endeavours .
The four of us will continue to put on the events that people seem to like with their unique and often quirky flavour , until the point where people don't want to come anymore, or it stops being enjoyable for us , and hopefully we'll see CW at them , safe in the knowledge that he can sit back and enjoy one without having to run around like a mad thing making sure everyone else is having a good time first .
Guy has said it all really. Dave, you will be missed, although I fully understand your reasons.
When I want your opinion - I'll tell you what it is!
I can only echo what Guy and Pete have already said. You will be missed David, but just to show how high you are in my estimation, i'm now upping the bounty on your head at the next event we see you at from a can of lager to at least 4 cans 
When we were a Kingdom it was run by a King
When we were an Empire it was run by an Empress
Now we're a country we're run by a..........
As I said at the weekend I'll be sorry to see you go and it won't be the same without you. Thanks for all the hard work you've put in over the years, it truely is appreciated. Hopefully we'll still see you at a few events where you can relax and enjoy yourself without having to worry about anyone but yourself.
I'll reflect all of the above comments by my fellow organisers.
It's a real loss to CiA, and hopefully we'll see you at the next event!!
It's hard for me to really know what to say.
Dave, you've worked so hard to get CiA and the community to where it is today. There's been a lot of great moments on the way and I'm sure that CiA will feel very different without you. I wish the remaining CiA organisers well and hope that they can carry on to hold great events without you, though I know it will be a challenge!
The real silver lining to this cloud is that you're not going anywhere. Without your guidance and hard work this forum and community hub really would struggle. Thank goodness you've decided to stay and keep that alive.
Also I think it's great that you've decided to continue playing. You're always to pleasure to play alongside, whether being led by you, leading you or just fighting side by side. And you've always been a tough, yet fair and fun opponent. Here's to more of that!
Sad day indeed.
But by hook or cruck, restraint or kidnap, CW will be at CiA games in the future in the rightful roll of Officer Commanding the 16th 
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For your sake I am pleased you are taking a back seat
However like many back seat drivers I know it will be hard for you not to have some input to the games you attend and I am sure one and all will welcome said input
This forum would fold up without you here so glad you are staying and I hope to still see you at many games.
Yes making props does take a long time and we all appreciate the long hours you have put in for all of us over the last 5 years.
Free speech is expensive these days!
Bless you for the kind words all, much appreciated.
The purpose of the post was to explain my future absence from CiA game threads and to stop the rumour mill going into overdrive about the impending doom of this, that or the other, malicious gossip and conspiracy theories.
The message is that CiA is continuing much as before, with the same principles it was started with and the same ideas of what constitutes great WW2 airsoft events. No one is indispensable, many people have already been and gone in the WW2 airsoft scene and it hasn't collapsed. Things evolve, things change, things get better.
* C-W gets out pipe and slippers and shuffles off into retirement *
Blimey! If only you'd've posted this up on the 1st, the fun that could have been had...
Thanks ever-so for the many years being the "man at the controls" behind both the CiA games and online content/forum.
Glad to hear that you're still going to be gaming!
A Proud Member Of 'Team Spleen!' who play mainly at Gunman Airsoft, Tuddenham, Suffolk.
Bless you for the kind words all, much appreciated.
The purpose of the post was to explain my future absence from CiA game threads and to stop the rumour mill going into overdrive about the impending doom of this, that or the other, malicious gossip and conspiracy theories.
The message is that CiA is continuing much as before, with the same principles it was started with and the same ideas of what constitutes great WW2 airsoft events. No one is indispensable, many people have already been and gone in the WW2 airsoft scene and it hasn't collapsed. Things evolve, things change, things get better.
* C-W gets out pipe and slippers and shuffles off into retirement *
Too late , we've already started the one about you taking over command of the Libyan rebel forces 
I can only imagine the amount of work you have put in to organizing games and running this site over the last five years.
A sincere thank you David,
See you around
....But surely you now can enjoy air soft from the other side of the fence CW..with out all the stress and strain of being a organiser..It would make our day to have you leading the 16th at future CIA events
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For me this is great news, means I might get to see the old mucker more than twice in 4 years
You have had a massive impact on the community and I'm thrilled your not chucking in the towel, I know how much time you guys put in and have no idea how you do it and have real jobs 
Josh
Heer Schmidt
Too late , we've already started the one about you taking over command of the Libyan rebel forces
Hasn't Che already bagged that job?
I can only repeat what others have said, really, hopefully you can now have an active 'retirement' away from the ballache of organising events.
As much fun as it all is, it ain't half a whole load of stress!
Hi C-W
Thanks for all the work you have put in over the years. This forum is always a better place for having you around. Your under the bonnet work makes it do more each year.
In regard to you stepping back from game organisation that is a shame as I think you have helped bring an immersive element to CiA events that will be a challenge to maintain.
I look forward to you being able to play more and attend more re-enactment events and hope to catch up for a drink and a pipe during the year.
I look forward to continuing to see you at things Mr Chomley-Warner. They are at least 8.2% more fun when you are there.
